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PETA's at it again

Sorry, but I have no respect for a group who compares the slaughter of animals to the Holocaust.

Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. -- An animal rights group wants Southern University to refrain from replacing the jaguar mascot that died Sunday from symptoms related to old age.

But Southern's chancellor said the university is likely to get a new cat and raise money for a habitat much larger than the previous mascot's 418-square-foot cage on the Baton Rouge campus.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a Norfolk, Va., group critical of schools that keep big cats as mascots, says Southern should end its three-decade-old practice of keeping a pet jaguar. It says the animal is too confined, suffers from lack of interaction with other jaguars and would pose a danger to humans if it escapes.

Amy Rhodes, PETA's animals-in-entertainment supervisor, said her group will encourage Southern to stop the live-animal tradition in favor of relying on a human-costumed mascot, which is the practice of most universities and all National Football League teams.

"Fortunately, it really is a dying tradition," Rhodes said of using live animals as mascots.

The 200-pound animal, called Lacumba, was healthy throughout her life and well-cared for by the university, said her veterinarian, Gordon Pirie. A diagnostic lab at Louisiana State University's veterinary school analyzed the dead animal and found that she died of kidney failure at age 15, generally considered the beginning of old age for a jaguar, Pirie said.

Asked whether he thinks Southern should acquire a new jaguar, Pirie said, "I've been asked that question a thousand times, and I would rather not comment on it."

Chancellor Edward Jackson told The Advocate of Baton Rouge that fans loved the jaguar and that he would be discussing the topic of a future mascot with the university's board of supervisors and alumni. The school is raising money for a Lacumba memorial and probably will decide to build a bigger habitat at a cost of at least $500,000, he said.

Rhodes said PETA also opposes LSU keeping its Mike the Tiger mascot, who will be furnished with a larger $2.9 million habitat this summer. Tigers and jaguars "are not props to be used in a pathetic attempt to rile up fans," she said.

"While we are happy that plans have been made to give Mike a bigger enclosure, this does nothing to ensure us that Mike will have the life he deserves," Rhodes said. "We urge LSU to retire Mike to a legitimate sanctuary, where he can live out the remainder of his life free from the stress of public display and unnatural living conditions."

Mike's supporters say his new facility will benefit the animal, supplement LSU's veterinary program and provide an opportunity to educate the public about an endangered species.

PETA has been critical of other college mascots, including the University of Memphis' 500-pound Bengal tiger TOM II, the University of North Alabama's lions, Leo and Una, and Baylor University's bears.

Re: PETA's at it again

I miss the Bengal Tiger the used to be at Bengals' home games. PETA also has apparently convinced McDonalds to change its ways also, apparently going to kill chickens using an inert gas, i guess rather than chopping their heads off.

Re: PETA's at it again

Re: PETA's at it again

Those crazies mailed me a DVD. A true four star affair. They showed numerous shots of pigs getting their brains caved in with cinder blocks. Then had beautiful famous people tell me I'm wrong for eating meat. Comedy Gold~

Re: PETA's at it again

They're over the top, but they've got a point here. There's really no point in having live mascots, in my opinion anyway.

It's a shame PETA doesn't do a better marketing job, because animal rights is a legitimate cause. There are a lot of inhumane things that go on that a watchdog group could help with, but I think they shoot themselves in the foot more often than not.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
--Oscar Wilde

Re: PETA's at it again

Originally Posted by Redsfaithful

It's a shame PETA doesn't do a better marketing job, because animal rights is a legitimate cause. There are a lot of inhumane things that go on that a watchdog group could help with, but I think they shoot themselves in the foot more often than not.

Heres one humane way to kill a turkey.

Originally Posted by savafan

I've read books about sparkling vampires who walk around in the daylight that were written better than a John Fay article.

Re: PETA's at it again

Originally Posted by Redsfaithful

They're over the top, but they've got a point here. There's really no point in having live mascots, in my opinion anyway.

It's a shame PETA doesn't do a better marketing job, because animal rights is a legitimate cause. There are a lot of inhumane things that go on that a watchdog group could help with, but I think they shoot themselves in the foot more often than not.

It's entertainment and no one is hurt, including the animal in most cases. I can't remember seeing any scarred mascots on Oprah, anyways. In the Bengals case, they simply brought the thing in from the zoo for the game, which I know is another animal rights story altogether.

PETA is extreme, that is why they aren't taken seriously. They equate at best, or elevate animals at worst, over human life, which most recognize as a misguided heirarchy.

Re: PETA's at it again

My dog hid and coward in the house last night as fireworks were going off celebrating New Years. I can't imagine her reaction if she was in front of 50,000 fans with all sorts of noise makers. It would probably kill her with fright.

But, if the animal is use to it and it's not stressful to it, I don't see a problem with it. I would assume the zoo experts know what's best.

Re: PETA's at it again

Originally Posted by Redsfaithful

It's a shame PETA doesn't do a better marketing job, because animal rights is a legitimate cause. There are a lot of inhumane things that go on that a watchdog group could help with, but I think they shoot themselves in the foot more often than not.

I agree fully. There are truck loads of issues, especially in regard to circus and zoo treatment around the country and the world.

I think a good comparison is with the environmental lobby. The Sierra Club has done some great things over the years in the field of conservation, yet idiots like the ELF and other ecoterrorism groups taints the work they do.

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